Read Blackvine Manor Mystery for Free Online Page B

the blanket over Otto’s legs. “They called it an ‘episode,’ a minor heart attack. There’s talk of putting a stint in but so far your grandfather refuses.”
    Otto’s eyes snap open and focus on his grandson. “Long time, Junior.”
    “Hello, Otto. How are you feeling?”
    Otto gives him a colorless smile. “The last few days have been hell but I’ve been through worse.”
    Maxwell sits down in the chair next to Otto’s bed. “Must have been a shock when I called about Delia.” He can’t bring himself to add an apology.
    His grandfather’s eyes tighten but his voice stays steady. “Least you could do an old man a favor. Go feed Johnny.”
    Otto turns on the television, scowling at the news and not saying anything else. Maria fusses around the room before heading to the nurses’ station to straighten out Otto’s dinner.
    “She’ll be a while,” David chuckles. “Why don’t I go with you? I seem to remember Johnny’s not that fond of you.”
    As they climb into his father’s BMW, Maxwell realizes his father knew he was going to ignore his grandfather’s wishes. “That damn German Shepherd would have been fine without food for one night.”
    “He would have eaten the couch again and you know it.”
    Maxwell grits his teeth. “How can you stand being his errand boy?”
    “You’re supposed to do things for your family,” David sighs.
    “Like finding their murderers? Like honoring their memory? He never talks about it. You never talk about her.”
    David grips the steering wheel tighter. “Has it ever occurred to you that it hurts to talk about her?”
    “Has it ever occurred to you that pretending she didn’t exist is not healthy? She was your mother.”
    “Exactly,” David raps out quickly, “and I had to come to terms with the fact that she is gone.”
    They get out of the car at Otto’s craftsman-style house. “Doesn’t it bother you that they never found her killer? Not even your police chief father?”
    David pauses on the porch. “I should let Johnny take a chunk out of you.”
    The German Shepherd barks wildly, frothing at the side window until David opens the door and calls out a command. Johnny comes quickly to the door and sits, bright eyes studying them both.
    “Just listen to yourself,” David continues, walking into the house, “even the police chief could not find her killer. So we all had to let it go.”
    Maxwell can’t help himself. “And you never wondered if maybe your father had something to do with it?”
    Johnny starts growling deep in his throat until David snaps his fingers. “Otto is a hard man. His career has made him hard, but he loved her more than anything. You were just a child; I know how he was frightening and she was an angel. But you were a kid and didn’t really know.”
    “And how did you know? You were always away working.”
    “Ah, yes, you want to cover all the old ground again. How about we take a little detour and talk about your career? Or your complete lack thereof. You might be a jerk to your grandfather but Otto would still use his contacts to get you into the academy.”
    “No thanks,” Maxwell says, looking around Otto’s place. He notes there isn’t a single picture of Delia anywhere.
    “So you’re just going to waste away as the landlord of that awful property?”
    “Blackvine Manor Apartments is not awful.”
    David dumps dog food in Johnny’s dish, making the dog sit in the doorway and wait while he turns to Maxwell mid-pour. “It’s awful to me.”
    “Yes. It’s full of crazy people and drug addicts, just like Alexis Cole. You have to admit that what you did to her was wrong.”
    “You’ve got it the wrong way around. She did something to me: she literally dug up memories I wish had stayed buried forever.”

Chapter Eleven
    A LEXIS AND GEORGE ARE IN the courtyard when Maxwell pulls up to the curb and jumps out.
    “See, the way the fountain is, #203 is the only apartment with a clear view of the bench.”